forum: Food & Drink

Cooking with Primary School Kids

I regularly cook with my children's (10 yr & 11 yr olds) classes at school. I feel a little like, dare I say it the 'Anti-Jamie Oliver'. Let me explain.... I tend to go in to do special cooking with them that usually involves lots of sugar, fat, colourings & flavourings.

At Easter I do chocolate/marshmallow eggs & marshmallow bunnies. At Christmas we make rocky road Christmas trees and decorate them with royal icing and edible glitter or gingerbread houses decorated with the traditional avalance of sweets and coloured royal icing.

Other than these specific occasions, I go in and make various biscuits, small cakes & muffins because they can be accomplished quickly and are easily distributed to the class.

I am keen to expand my repetoire to incorporate some healthier items that can still be considered fun and worth the effort because they will still capture the kids' imagination. So many of these kids just don't cook, I am feeling a little guilty that I always do unhealthy food at school.

I would appreciate any recipes or suggestions you may have. (Items need to have reasonable lasting qualities as they often have to last up to 2-3 weeks.)

Re: Cooking with Primary School Kids

Ah, I hadn't read that last line but why would they need to last? Sugar is a good preserving ingredient as is salt so I don't know if a "healthier" item would last that long. All the cooking I ever did at school was eaten at the time. Do cakes and muffins last that long? I thought 2-3 days was the limit for baked goods.

Re: Cooking with Primary School Kids

White Rabbit, Easter cooking only has to last about a week. Christmas stuff, gingerbread houses and rocky road last about 2 weeks easily which is about the time that there is between school breaking up and Christmas. So the products we make are fine over these time periods. What I help the kids make is sent home beautifully packaged with a calligraphied nametags that provides the kids a gift they can present to their families for sharing. It is not just for cooking and scoffing, it is more like edible art!

As you pointed out salt is a good preserving ingredient but what could I make that would provide a family with a gift? This is the question.

I did cooking at school and I loved taking the result of my labour to share with my family (sometimes to their advantage, sometimes not!). I guess that is also some of the appeal of making these opportunities for the kids.

Re: Cooking with Primary School Kids

Hi Shari! Good on you to try out new things, my niece and nephew love when we let them help with the cooking and they are only 4 + 7.

Both of them really like olives and we marrinated them with different oils and spices and even along with some feta cheese cubes. When they are ready to eat they like putting them on cheese cubes with funcy coloured toothpics.

Not sure if other kids like that?

Or how about savoury cookies with cheese and spices sprinkled on top before baking? My mum made them when I was little and I enjoyed helping.

Re: Cooking with Primary School Kids

Hi LadyRed, savoury cookies is a great idea! I have a variety of cutters that could be used to reflect the occassion being celebrated. Cheese is great for the not so adventurous and spices will be good for those ready to try something more interesting.

I am Eurasian so my kids are used to exposure to a varied diet and one of the things they love most as a treat is pickled octopus.. not an option for most of their friends however. Most of their mates have fairly bland palates. No doubt they would enjoy greater exposure to different tastes if it was introduced gradually.

Re: Cooking with Primary School Kids

What about doing some flapjack (oats, golden syrup, brown sugar) you can add raisins,dried apricots or other dried fruit too. It lasts quite a while - well in my house it doesn't cos it gets eaten but it would last in a bag or wrapping.

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